I would be a strong advocate for enlarging those budgets, at the same time ensuring that the money is well-targeted and well-spent.

We want to be supportive of the process as much as possible, and if confirmed, I will do what I can to be supportive to both communities as they try to undertake a very difficult path to reconciliation and reunification.

I certainly hope they will continue those kinds of symbolic gestures because I think they are very important in reducing tensions within the region.

I think we have--particularly our Department of Homeland Security has learned a lot because of what we experienced last summer on our southern border.

Your willingness to serve at a time when there is continued financial upheaval in Europe, as well as the threat from Russia and from ISIS, is absolutely critical.

I appreciate the close relationship that America and Georgia have had, and their contributions to our efforts in Afghanistan have been significant.

I share his belief that we need to try and be more focused on what is happening in the Balkans.

I think we should be very proud of that.

I do not have a statement but I would just like to echo the thanks to each of you for your willingness to take on these very important positions.

I had the opportunity recently to meet in Brussels with officials from Europe and from particularly Eastern Europe and the Baltics.

We are considering your nominations and our relations with these countries against the backdrop of an aggressive Russia in Europe's east and growing instability in its south, in the Middle East and in North Africa.

I was very excited when I saw that Serbia and Kosovo had reached an initial agreement on how to move forward several years ago.